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5 Invaluable Tips For Freelancers

5 Invaluable Tips For Freelancers

Being a freelancer is pretty great (most of the time). Not only do you get the freedom over where, and when, you work, but you’re also able to do it in your pyjamas. Ideal, huh? Although freelancing is a dream for most people, it also brings some difficulties with it. You have to stay motivated, getting paid on time can be difficult, and it can get pretty lonely. We’ve put together 5 tips for freelancers, that will help you to get the most out of your work-from-home job.

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#1: Choose your rate, and don’t accept less

The first time that you take on a freelance contract, you will end up quoting people a lot less than you should for the work that you’re doing. This is because your clients are taking a risk by employing somebody who may not have the experience, and you also need to secure contracts and build up your portfolio. After this, however, ask for a figure that suits you and the work that you’re putting in.

#2: Be clever about payments

One of the primary issues with freelance work is that you can be waiting around a while to get paid. It’s a good idea to ask for half of the funds to be paid to you before you begin the job, and you should set a date to be paid the rest after the project is finished. You can also start looking for invoice finance companies if you’re not getting your cash as quickly as you’d like, so check out your options.

Late payments can be a real pain, especially when you’re waiting on money to arrive. It’s also worse when you’re struggling to track who owes you what. Using payment chasing software like chaserhq.com will help you keep track of payments and chase them up if they don’t pay on time.

#3: Always write up a contract

Of course, when you’re a freelancer, you need to make sure that you’ve got a contract template at the ready. Signing a contract – and ensuring that your client signs it too – is imperative, as their expectations will be laid out, and your promises to them will be agreed upon. Make sure that it covers all bases, although it doesn’t need to be too in depth if you’re only completing small projects.

#4: Try to work 9 ‘til 5 hours

When you work from home, there is no boss watching over you, checking that you’re getting things done. You have to be self-motivated, which means that you need to sit at a desk or a table, and get started on your work early in the morning. If you don’t do this, you could end up working at night, or getting nothing done at all. Try to stick to the conventional 9 ‘til 5 hours if you can.

#5: Put effort into your social life

As a freelancer, your life is pretty different to those who work in offices. You don’t come out of work at 5pm and stop thinking about it; in fact, when you’re freelance, you could find it difficult to switch off at all. However, you should put an effort into maintaining your social life where you can, as working from home can be quite isolating. Working from coffee shops is also a good way to get out of the house!

So, if you’re a freelancer, then keep these 5 tips in mind!

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